Baby Wanda

Spelled this way, Adine could be a relative of either the Irish Aideen, which means jealousy, or the Arabic Adina, meaning slender. We'll go with the slender.

This simple unisex Vietnamese name has multiple possible meanings, including "hero", "petal", "brave", "bright", depending on the characters used to write it.

Celestine is a pretty, crystalline extension (actually a diminutive) of Celeste that would make a choice that is both delicate and strong. It is also a popular name in France.

French-Canadian singer Dion made us notice this variation. Although many parents would prefer the homonym Selene, which has a different derivation and means "moon," Celine has been a Top 1000 name every year since 2012, and was also on the list each year from 1994 to 2005. Celine is also a newly-chic French fashion label.

Charline is a feminine name with French origins, functioning as a diminutive form of Charlotte or a feminine version of Charles. Both root names derive from the Germanic name Karl, meaning 'free man' or 'strong one.' Charline gained modest popularity in France and French-speaking areas of Canada during the mid-20th century. In the United States, it saw brief periods of usage in the 1920s and again in the 1950s but has remained relatively uncommon. The name has a delicate, refined quality with its soft 'ch' sound and elegant ending. Charline strikes a balance between classic and distinctive, offering a less common alternative to the more widely used Charlotte while maintaining its sophisticated French heritage and graceful sound.

There are much chicer versions of this name today, such as Claudie, Claudia, or Claude itself. Claudine is a name wobbling on the edge of extinction.

Emmeline is an Emma relative and Emily cousin that is destined for greater use in the wake of the megapopularity of those two names. A recommended Nameberry fave, Emmeline hopped onto the US Top 1000 in 2014 for the first time ever. While it is genuinely an old name, it was rarely used a century ago; only 17 baby girls were named Emmeline in 1915, the same number as were named Ernie!

One time joke name, à la Lily Tomlin's bossy telephone operator, Ernestine is ready for a possible reevaluation, like cousins Josephine and Clementine..

Fernandine is a feminine name derived from the masculine Ferdinand, which has Germanic origins meaning 'brave journey' or 'bold protector.' The feminine form adds elegance and sophistication to the stronger masculine root. Popular primarily in French-speaking regions and countries with Latin influences, Fernandine carries an air of nobility and refinement. Historically, it was associated with royal and aristocratic families in Europe. The name has a classic, somewhat old-fashioned charm that might appeal to parents seeking a traditional yet uncommon name with historical significance. Fernandine offers the familiar nicknames Fern or Dina, providing versatility as the bearer moves through different life stages.

With the advent of Pope Francis, all forms of this ancient and saintly name came up for a fresh look. Along with most other -een and -ine (when pronounced like -een) names for girls, Francine has a dated midcentury Mad Men feel. But its choice for their daughter by modern glamour couple Casey Neistat and Candice Pool, respectively a video star and a jewelry designer, has made Francine chic again.

Josephine, with its large measure of class and character and a gently offbeat quality, has been on a gentle uphill climb in the US for over 30 years, now ranking in the Top 100. With an intriguing number of vivacious nicknames, from Jo to Josie to Fifi to Posy, Josephine is a Nameberry favorite.

Sleek and sophisticated.

With the success of all names Max, from Max itself to Maxwell to Maxfield to Maximilian, it's just possible that Maxine could be lured away from her mah-jongg game at the clubhouse and into the nursery. She's already been chosen by hip musician Nick Hexum for his daughter, sister to Echo.

Pauline had its moment of glory almost a century ago, when movie audiences were thrilling to the silent serial The Perils of Pauline; it's a sweet and gentle name that just might be due for reconsideration. Off the list since the late 1990s, Pauline was a Top 50 name from around 1908 to 1930.

Wendeline is a feminine name that serves as an elaborate form of Wendy or a feminine version of Wendell. The name has Germanic roots, likely connected to the elements 'wand' meaning 'to wander' and 'lin' being a diminutive suffix. Some might also connect it to Wendel, referring to the Vandals, a Germanic tribe. Though rare in modern usage, Wendeline has a graceful, old-world quality with its flowing syllables and elegant ending. The name gained minor recognition through Saint Wendelin, a Germanic hermit and abbot, though the feminine form has less historical documentation. Potential nicknames include Wendy, Lina, or Dell. The name appeals to parents drawn to vintage-sounding names with German or European heritage, offering familiarity through its connection to Wendy while remaining distinctively uncommon.

Any of the Y forms, which also include Yasmeen, Yasmin, and Yasmina, make this name more unusual and distinctive.